Every month, we feature a United Way Partner Agency’s client experience, demonstrating the impact that donations to United Way of Sheboygan County are making. This month’s client experience was submitted directly by Bernadette Mueller, RAYS supervisor at Lutheran Social Services of WI and Upper MI, Inc., as part of their annual application for Runaway and Youth Services.

“Runaway and Youth Services (RAYS) provides a drop-in center for all youth within the community aged 10-17 twice a week. Joey*, a 17-year-old who attends this event frequently, was discussing with a staff member his home life and the environment that surrounds him. He was a runaway during summer (RAYS received a police fax on the youth) and has had irregular school attendance, not showing up for days. All family members have had jail time and are involved in illegal activities. RAYS staff continued to build a positive relationship and agreed to assist Joey with his community service for a crime he committed, despite the opinions of other professionals that viewed him as a ‘bad kid that would not amount to much’.

“During his time with RAYS, Joey began to show positive improvement with his behavior and attitude in school, as the principal called our office to inform us of his turnaround. He began attending every day and turning in his homework on time. He even brought staff a paper he wrote in school on ‘Juvenile Offenders Tried as Adults’. He received a 100% on the paper with ‘excellent’ written at the top. In his paper, Joey asked that juveniles like himself receive support from others instead of punishment and judgment, as he felt supported by RAYS staff who gave non-judgmental support and listened to his experiences instead of labeling him as ‘another bad kid’. Joey continues to receive services with staff through basic center and works on positive goals that will lead him to a successful transition into being an adult.”

*Name changed to protect client confidentiality